Cologne publisher Busch Glatz opens a branch in Mülheim

Cologne –

From the dream of the return of the former cinema in Cologne-Mülheim. There is movement in the commercial unit of the building at Buchheimer Strasse 24, which has been vacant for several years and where the movie theater and later a branch of “Schlecker” were located. The result is a future-oriented melting pot for creative people. The Cologne publisher Timo Busch (38) explains in EXPRESS why he chose this location and what he is planning there.

• Former cinema in Cologne-Mülheim will not reopen
• Cologne publisher opens branch of the publishing house “Busch Glatz”
• The importance of film and cinema is not lost at the location

For a long time now, many residents have been wondering whether the cinema between Mülheimer Ufer and Wiener Platz will return. Passers-by peek curiously through the slits in the wooden panels. The construction site is secured with a lock. A few days ago, signs from the “Busch Glatz” publishing house were put up. An “innovation hub” is to be created.

Its publisher Timo Busch, who has lived in the Belgian Quarter in Cologne since 2002, is the editor of the media magazine “MEEDIA” and the industry leader in the field of film magazines “Blickpunkt: Film” and “MusikWoche”. He runs the family business with more than 150 employees.

Cologne: publisher Timo Busch in an EXPRESS interview

EXPRESS: What is planned in the Innovation Hub? What purpose is it supposed to serve?
Timo Busch: Here we bring together the designers, programmers and product managers as well as data and marketing experts from Busch Glatz and work on new offers and the further development of existing products. As a media company, technology is playing an increasingly important role – and in the future we will have a central location for new ideas. Accordingly, a modern office with flexible workplaces, areas for workshops and meetups, a TV studio and a café in the front part will be created.

When should the renovation start? Is there a scheduled date for an opening?
Together with the owner, we have revised the concept again over the past few weeks. The “old cinema” has now been completely gutted. If all permits are in place, construction work can really start in the summer. The move is planned for autumn 2022.

Why was this location chosen?
Mülheim is developing rapidly, building is going on everywhere. For our Innovation Hub, we wanted an office that consists of a single large room. A former cinema is of course perfect for this. In addition, the high ceilings, brick on the walls and all of this in such a historic location (in addition to the cinema, Napoleon also visited the building of today’s Hirsch Pharmacy across the street in September 1804, editor’s note). Buchheimer Str. Offers our employees a good infrastructure with pharmacies, bakeries, the Rewe supermarket and the public transport connection at Wiener Platz. And all of this within walking distance of the Rhine.

Will the hub be related to film or cinema?
With focus: Film, among other things, we make the leading trade magazine for the film and cinema industry. In addition, S&L, the largest marketing agency for the cinema industry, belongs to us. In this respect, of course, it goes well together!

Do you have comparable innovation hubs at other locations?
No, we made a conscious decision to only have one central location where innovation occurs. However, our employees from the offices in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich or Mönchengladbach will come to the “Old Cinema” on a regular basis.

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